California has opened a 30-day comment period on three proposed WIOA waivers that could give Local Workforce Development Boards more flexibility in youth work experience, youth training, and supportive services after program exit. The waivers are not yet in effect. Current WIOA requirements remain controlling unless the U.S. Department of Labor approves the requests and California issues implementation guidance.
Policy Pulse · September 24, 2026
One development to have on the WDB radar
WSIN26-17 proposes three waivers that would change how California Local Boards can count youth work-experience spending, use Individual Training Accounts for in-school youth, and provide supportive services after Adult or Dislocated Worker exit.
WSIN26-17 — California seeks three new WIOA waivers
What changed: The California Workforce Development Board is seeking public comment before requesting three waivers from the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Youth work experience: allow both WIOA local youth formula funds and TANF funds to count toward the minimum 20 percent youth work-experience expenditure requirement.
- Youth training: allow Individual Training Accounts for in-school youth as well as out-of-school youth.
- Supportive services: allow supportive services for Adult and Dislocated Worker participants during the 12 months after exit.
Why it matters to WDBs: If approved, the waivers could expand local flexibility in three operating areas that affect program design, spending, and participant support. They do not change current rules today, so local boards should keep existing requirements in place while tracking the federal decision and any later California guidance.
What to do now: Review the proposals against local youth, training, supportive-service, fiscal, and CalWORKs coordination practices. Written comments are due to the California Workforce Development Board by 5 p.m. PST on October 23, 2026. Local policy changes should wait for federal approval and state implementation guidance.
Read the full WSIN26-17 brief →
Source checked September 24, 2026. Primary authority: EDD / CWDB, WSIN26-17. The proposals are open for public comment and require U.S. Department of Labor approval before they can change current WIOA operating rules. Official sources control. Workforce Wonkery is AI-assisted and does not receive human legal or compliance review.
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